Warm day in Virginia reason enough to slow pace, delay training

[ With Melissa DeVaughn ]

Published: February 4th, 2009 06:16 PM
Last Modified: February 4th, 2009 06:45 PM

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Running along a country road in Virginia this week, on an unseasonably warm 55-degree sunshiny day, I peeled off my jacket, tied it around my waist and began to think of springtime in Alaska.

This is a dangerous thing to do when it's only the beginning of February, and we still have months of snow yet to enjoy. The cold days are surely not behind us -- not even remotely -- so dreaming of the green grasses of summer is slightly ridiculous right now.

Still the days are growing longer, and the thought of cycling on the open roads or running without spiked shoes is appealing. With each stride along River Ridge Road in Virginia, I mentally planned my spring season in Alaska.

Cows chewed on the brown-green winter grass of the open pastures, and a curious donkey loped up to the fence as I ran by.

An old battered truck -- one of only three vehicles to pass me on this secluded route -- passed by with the neon-orange words "Farm Use" spray-painted on the tailgate.

While it won't be this ideal in Alaska for awhile, I know the time is coming. After the hustle of the holidays and the endurance of the dark, shortened days of December, February in Alaska, for me, is a time when the stopwatch starts and gearing up for the summer -- whether it's camping, running, racing -- begins. The mean month of January is over, and my mind is clearly putting winter behind it.

Passing by an old farmhouse on River Ridge, I slowed to take in the beauty: the cream clapboard siding and the neat, trimmed garden in the back revealing soil that looked tilled and waiting for summer. A simple green wreath hung on the door, and an early model four-door sedan sat parked out front.

At the same time, I looked down at my watch, noting that in this fine weather my pace was a full 30 seconds faster than my icy Alaska runs of late.

I was encouraged by this and immediately felt the desire to pick up my pace and see just how fast I could go. But then another car passed, this one containing an elderly couple, likely on their way to the Baptist church at the end of the road. As they passed, I noted the driver in a black suit and tie, and his passenger, whose dandelion puff of gray hair was neatly arranged.

I smiled and waved, and they returned the gesture, puttering down the road at what couldn't have been more than 20 mph.

I looked again at my watch, then out at the fields and valley before me. I thought of that old couple and wondered why on earth I was in such a hurry. I slowed my pace, turned my watch upside down and decided spring training can wait another day to begin. Right here, right now, enjoying my solitary run was all I needed.

• Contact Melissa DeVaughn and read her blog at www.melissadevaughn.com.

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